Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-10-29
HIS ONLY LOVE.
BY EUGENE OAKLEY.

That Pat was either actually suffer.
ing from mental alteration or en-.
ueavOring his utmost to inspire one
with that suspicion, could not vel
doubt. For several days he had been
acting in a strange, might say re.
markably alb surd manner, and appeared
entirely to have lost his gay, almost
French, sp-r ils.
Pat OaEley was a genuine Dublin
Irishman, generous to q fault. reckless,
brimmi Of fun and animal spirits. and
bound to have a little taste of foreign
life, as he expressed it; and I WAS q
blase Eng isAman, travelling to kill
time. We became acquainted with
each other at Geneva, in Switzerland,
and u warm friendship soon sprang up
between us; thenceforth we were in
separahle companions, travelling every
where together.
Before We departed each for his own
country, Pat and 1 concluded to spsnd
few weeks in Paris. 1t is needless to
state that time never hung heavy on
our hands during our sol arm there.
No one in that gayest Of cities, with
plenty of money, ever experiences any
difficulty IN finding plenty of amuse-
meut. But suddenly Pat grew sulky
and silent, spending his afternoons
knew not where, and his evenings in
pacing up and down the floor Of our
spacious chamber.
One evening about twilight, Just as I
had thrown myself upon the sofa,
heard Pats heavy tread in the hail
He threw open the door with a great
deal OF unnecessary violence, and
glared about the room with an exceed
ingly savage scowl ut nothing in par
ticular. OF rather at everything IN
gsneral-ths glare was not at all spe-
cific. Having uttered in a sepulchral
tone some choice expressions rarely
heard OF the tragic stage, lie entered
the chamber and began pacing the
floor. Pausing for n moment to kick
over the spittOOn aud to utter q most
pathetic groan, he went to his writing
desk and took therefrom a small pack
age OF d .inty notes; these he proceeded
to ignite, anu watched them burn with
the air Of one Offering mp a sacrifice
next, lie took from his pocket o min ia
ture. seemed about to break It in twain,
but, changing his mind, flung it impa-
tiently from him, and seating himself
on his trunk. sighed heavily.
Ind discovered the secret Of Pats
absurd conduct; he was deeply, des.
perltely in love, or ut least imagined
himself to be. buried my face in the
velvet cushion to smother my laughter,
but he must have heard it, for lie sprane
up with a very impOiite ejaculation,
aud began pacing the floor again
finally he threw himself on the coucE
nnd-and the fellow actually burst into
tears.
pat" I exclaimed, you're a fool!'
al know 1 am, Boil" he said, rising
"but light a cigar and come and si
down by the window, and Pll tell yoU
all about i"
1 could not do less than comply Will
this rational request of my irrationa
friend.
well, Bob, " he began, you remem
Der that night about two weeks age
Won declined TO so out wi h me on the
score of indisposition, or something o.
the sort and L left you lying on the
sofa hummiag one of those COMPOUNDED
tuneleSs English songs of yours, anC
started for the Theater Francois
Well, did not 60; changing my mind
drilled about from street to street
until 1 completely lost my bearings
just as I was passing a dark, dlsma
looking lane 1 heard a smOtLereC
shrek, and regard ess of the couse
quences, 1 rushed down the lane whence
it proceeded, and beheld a woman
struggling IN the grasp of two ruftians
knocked one of them down, and the
other took to his heels. The womaI
was nearly frightened out of her 81 nses
and g ably accepted my offer to escort
her to her home. She said the me1
who had assaulted her were thieves,
and that they had nearly succeeded in
rObhiug her when 1 came to her asst {.
ance. When we had issued from tbs
lane into a decently-lighted street. ]
scrutiniZel her features. / WAS thunder
struck. The woman was a del cate girl
Of nineteen summers. Her figure was
petite and graceful. almost fragile.
She had hazel hair and dark-brown,
Baucy, laughing eyes that would set
your brain IN a whirl, and the softest,
silyery voice / ever listened to. She
was my Ideal exactly You should
have seen her, old fellow" And lie
gave me such hearty slap on the back
that / moved ont of reach lest another
Oufilr1 st OF cnthusiasm should lie fol-
lowed by a similar demonstration.
1Now, candidly. Bob Gordon, don't You
think she was beautiful 2"
i could tell better il 1 had seen
her, Pat, replied, gazing mp at the
ceiling and wondering il lie had for
gotten the miniature on the floor.
After going some distance, he con-
tnued, eve entered a neat, unprstead-
ing little street, in which It seems she
lived. asked her il 1 might call.
After some hesitation she id yes. any
afternoon; she never received any one
IN the evening; and taking a card from
her pocket she has,i wrote her name
and address on II, aud handing it to me.
again thanking me- for NV kindness. and
ahem!-Dravery ana BABE me- good
night On the carl was written.
aimee LCrstte. Is Rue St SEVERN. -
With great deal of difficulty man
aged to find my wav home, arriving
rather late in the morning, rs no doubt
you 7, member. ] waited impatientlv
t@o long days and then called. Aimee
received me very c. rIially in a cosy
little sitting-rooms and we had q pleas
ant chat together. Her parents we're
both dead. and she live would Won
b-lieye it?-enhrely alone, with the
exception Of faithful old Algerian,
servant who had been long in the serv-
Zoe Of her family. After my first call
j went TO see Aimee very frequently,
nearly every afternoon; We became
nrst rate lrienda. and. to be candid,